Way-guard construction for machine tools



Oct. 28, 1930. J. J. N. VAN HAMERSVELD 1,779,520

WAY GUARD CONSTRUCTION FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed Oct. 19, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Enven'Cm.

Oct. 28, 1930.

J. J. N. VAN HAMERSVELD WAY GUARD CONSTRUCTION FOR MACHINE TOOLS Filed Oct. 19, 1926 2 Sheets$heet 2 fl fivezzifom,

Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN J. N. VAN HAMERSVELD, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WARNER AND SWASEY COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO WAY-GUARD CONSTRUCTION FOR MACHINE TOOLS Application filed October 19, 1928. 7 Serial No. 142,719.

This invention relates to a way guard construction for machine tools having one or more sliding members supported on ways, at least one of which is common to the sliding members if a plurality of sliding members are emIplo ed.

11 S. Patent No. 1,575,735, granted in the names of E. P. Burrell and myself, a very practical and effective way guard construction is shown, each way which is common to both sliding members being completely housed in a guard which thus protects the way against injury from falling objects as well as prevents the entrance of chips, dirt,

cuttin compound and the like onto the surface 0 the way.

The present invention has for its object to provide a simplified way guard construction and one which can be produced and 10 applied at less cost. A further object is to provide a practical way in which a stationary uard may be applied and supported, which guard, while not completely housing the way, serves to protect it from injury by falling objects and gives a measure of protection against the lodgin of chips, dirt and the like on the surface of t e way.

The invention may be briefl summarized as consisting in certain novel etails of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claim.

In the accom anying sheets of drawings showing the pre erred orm of the invention, Fig. 1 1s a side elevation of the major portion of a turret lathe equipped with the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with a part of the head in section and some parts unessential to the invention omitted;

i 3 is a transverse sectional view substantia ly along the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4.-

is a transverse sectional view substantially along the line 44; of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing how the stationary guard is supported at the front and rear ends thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 represents the bed which is provided with a head 11 and with ways 12 for two sliding members consisting, in this instance, of a cross slide carriage 13 and a turret saddle 14, the former being provided with a cross slide 15 and the latter with a turret 16. The cross slide and turret may be operated by the usual mechamsms an the spindle (not showngl of the head is shown as provided with t e usual rotating work holding chuck 17.

In this instance, the bed is provided with two V-shaped ways although the invention may be employed with ways which are flat or otherwise shaped, and in this instance both ways are common to the sliding members 13 and 14. However, it is not essential that both ways be common to both slidin members, for in some instances only one of the two ways at the top of the bed is common to both sliding members, in which event one of the sliding members, generally the cross slide carriage, is supported on one of the upper ways and on a lower way extending along the lower front side of the bed, as clearly shown in the Burrell and Van Hamersveld patent referred to above. To protect the ways 12, stationary wa guards 18 are employed which are prefera ly stamped from sheet metal of suitable gauge and extend lengthwise of the ways a suitable distance above the same so as to'provide between the ways and the guards, except at their front and rear ends, a clearance adapted to accommodate the way engaging portions of the sliding members. These way guards are preferably provided with horizontal portions along the center line and being tapered downwardly along both sides so as to conform somewhat to the sha e of the ways, and in this instance the guar s sli htly overhang the ways, as best indicated in 1g. 3.

At their forward and rear ends, the guards 18 rest upon supports 19 to which they are secured by screws 20. These supports constitute raised tportions of the bed in line with the ways 12, ut projecting upwardly above the same, and at the top these sup conform to the shape of the under s1 e of the wag guards.

0th sliding members are provided with clearance openin 21 for the guards, these openings prefera 1y conforming-to the shape rts 19 or contour of the ards. Additionally, one and preferably bog sliding members serve to support the guards between their ends, and this'is accomplished by causin the guards 5 to have sliding engagement wit the sliding members where they pass through the same. I now regard it as preferable that the lower surface of the guards only have sliding engagement with the sliding members 13 and m 14, but, if desired, both the top and bottom surfaces of the guards may en age the walls forming the openings 21. In ig. 3 I have illustrated the supporting relation between the guards and one of the sliding members, I and this view will sufiice for showing the supportin relation between the guards and t other s 'ding member.

Thus it W111 be seen that though stationary ards are provided extending the length of t e' ways, the movement of the sliding members toward and from each other and toward and from the head is not interfered with, and, furthermore, it is to be noted that with this construction there is ample stock in the sliding members above the ways for firmly and rigidly supporting the slidlng members, and b supporting the guards on the bed at their orward and rear ends only and supporting them between their ends on one or both of the sliding members, the guards are amply supported and are capable of withstanding, without deformation or bendin severe blows to which they may be subjecte While I have shown the preferred con- 3 struction, I do not wish to be confined to the precise details shown but aim in my claim to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of my lnvention. 40 Having thus described my invention, I

clalm:

In a machine tool, a bed havin a way, one or more slidable members mova le thereon, a stationary guard over the way and extend- 5 ing through an opening in each slidable memher, said ard having downwardly inclined sldes, an supports on the bed for opposite ends of the ard, the base of the opening of each slida le member and the upper ends of said supports conforming substantially to the transverse contour of the guard and hem engaged by the lower surface of the guar for substantially the width thereof.

In testimony whereof, Ihereunto aflix my 5 signature.

JOHN J. N. VAN HAMERSVELD. 

